One of our favorite parts of the year is when A Novel Affair comes around! This year it’s on April 14 right at The Ferguson Library in the heart of downtown Stamford. The tasting and fundraising event goes from 5:30-8:30 and we’re very proud and honored to be one of the media partners! There will be food, there will be an open bar with wine and beer tastings, and the night will wrap up with a live auction that includes a trip for 2 to California wine country, three days at St. Bart’s, and a catered jazz cocktail party at Bank Street Events! Tickets are $125, the book club price is $100, and the Junior Professional price (26 and under) is $75. Reservations available at www.fergusonlibrary.org or by calling 203 351-8205. Sponsorship information at 203 351-8208.Continue reading →

The James Beard-winning Dorie Greenspan will be hitting up Stamford this Wednesday, 6 pm, at Deane (1267 East Main Street) in Stamford. She’ll be there to talk about her new book, Baking Chez Moi: Recipes from My Paris to Your Home Anywhere, and to sign copies. In addition, there will be wine and food samplings based off of her cookbook.

On May 24, 1976 a group of 11 judges sat down for a blind tasting of red and white wines in Paris, looking to see if French or American wines were better. The first battle was six California Chardonnay against four French Burgundies, followed by six California Cabernet Sauvignon against four French Bordeaux. Nine of the judges were French, one was British, and one was American. The assumption all along (and that of organizer Steven Spurrier) was that French wine would be superior and of higher quality than the California wines that were in the competition. Each judge scored wines out of 20…and the results sent shockwaves around the wine world and changed the way that we look at wine. Yes, not only did California’s Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars take home the prize for best red, Chateau Montelena from California also took first with their white. This is what people now refer to as The Judgment of Paris.

That’s pretty amazing if you ask us. Even if you don’t ask us, we’ll say it’s amazing. :) Well, you’ve got the perfect opportunity to explore the food and drinks of Ridgefield with the 15th Annual Taste of Ridgefield event, put together by the Ridgefield Rotary. The food (and drink) coma from sampling at 36 different spots begins on 1/26 and will include two tastings from 12:30-2:30 and 4-6. Tickets are $20 for kids aged 8-12, $40 if you buy tickets in advance or will be $45 at the door of the Ridgefield Community Center. Pick up your tix by visiting the Ridgefield Rotary site or pick them up from any Ridgefield Rotary Club member, Squash’s, Dimitri’s Diner, Cellar XV, Bistro 7, Deborah Annes, and the Women’s Center.

Jonesing (we made a punny joke) for something to do Thursday and over the weekend? Well, Jones Family Winery in Shelton has got the hook up! Aside from having their wine available for purchase and tasting, they’ll be holding a holiday tea tasting and cooking demo and have other great events going on, too.

First up is their Special Christmas Tea on 12/19 from 2-4 pm. For $60 (register here) you’ll get some wine and will learn how to make some awesome tea time classics such as tea sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, and cardamom walnut cookies. And, you can wash it all down with some Harney & Sons Tea. Pinky in the air while you sip is optional.

Even if you can’t make this cooking classes, there are still other chances to get in that holiday spirit at Jones. You could take the family out to visit Santa on 12/21 or 12/22 from 10-4 pm. Oh, and after the pics and asking Santa for a brand new PS4 or XBox One, travel into the tasting room and stock up for Christmas dinner!

And, if you’re one of those slackers who waits until the last minute to take care of things, they’ve got you covered too because they’ll be open on Christmas Eve from 9-4 pm so you’ll have plenty of liquid cheer, cider, and Christmas cookies.

Drinking might be the most undervalued and talked about aspect of Thanksgiving that makes it great. Ya feel us? Sure, we know all about the pumpkin pie, the turkey, the stuffing (dressing? psshhh), the cranberry sauce, and that deliciously weird green been casserole…but the drinks really help to make the meal complete. Plus, getting through a few hours with your wacko family probably requires some heavy drinking. We’re just saying…

So, look: all that wine and great beer (no crap beer allowed on the Thanksgiving table) needs to get to your house somehow. But, where should you go? We’ve got the perfect answer: Ancona’s in Ridgefield and Wilton. For this weekend on 11/23 and 11/24 from 12-5 pm they’ll be hosting Tom Turkey’s 2 Day Tasting Extravaganza.

It’s one thing to be a NCAA champion, but to also be a WNBA champion, AND an Olympic gold medalist is a completely other thing. We are talking about Kara Wolters here who got her start here in CT at UConn. She’ll be offering up wine for tasting, will be signing autographs, and will be available for pics at Harry’s Wine & Liquor in Fairfield on 11/16 from noon to 2 pm.

So, you’re probably asking, why would a basketball player with major cred on the basketball court be offering up a wine tasting? That’s because the wine is from none other than her former UConn Huskies coach…everybody’s favorite, Geno Auriemma. He recently released the Geno Auriemma Wine label through 47 Anno Domini Vineyards in Italy and Kara Wolters is helping to get the word out.

The North Stamford Exchange Club is a made up of a group of community members, coming together through community service, providing activities for children, helping to prevent child abuse, and strengthening Stamford. All of this work that they do for local Stamford families and youth isn’t cheap, so they’ve brought back their Wine Tasting event on 11/1 from 7-10 pm at The Italian Center of Stamford. Tickets are $50 each and that gets you wine samplings from across the world as well as some tasty treats from local restaurants. Tickets can be purchased via PayPal at http://www.northstamfordexchangeclub.org, with a credit card at http://www.localwineevents.com/, in person at Giovana’s Wine & Spirits (the awesome sponsor), 1492 High Ridge Rd., 203-252-2518, or at the door.

Normally for birthdays you need to find the perfect present for your friend then bring it over to the party. But, it works the opposite way at Harry’s Wine & Liquor Market in Fairfield. To celebrate their 72nd year in business this week, they’ll be giving you some amazing tasting treats and chances to get some amazing drinks.

First, we’ll start off on Thursday, 10/17, from 4-7 pm. Kobrand Imports will be there and will be featuring a few wines including a 96 point Sassacaia 2010 ($175) and a 99 point Fonseca Vintage port 2011 that is $100. While these two wines might not be in your normal price point, they are being sampled, so why not give them a try and see what 96 and 99 pointers taste like?

Then, on Friday, 10/18, from 4-7, you’ll be able to check out the champagnes of Canard Duchene. If you head over to the other side of Harry’s where the beer is, you’ll be able to get a special tasting of Down East Cider.

Finishing up the week, Saturday is going to be awesome! If you swing by from 1-4 pm, you can taste an awesome variety of Italian Wines from Vias Imports. Then, from 4-7 pm Harry’s will be offering a craft bourbon tasting. We’re talking about Pappy Van Winkle 12 year bourbon and some other mysterious items that Patrick alluded to. This is what he told us in a recent message:

“We are also going to delve into another hiding spot that we have and pull out another item or two that will be great accents to the tasting, who knows, one of them might even steal the show!”

Oh dear God, what can that mean? You’ll just have to come by and find out! In addition, be on the look out at the store for special prices on some of your favorite drinks and liquors.

Located at 2094 Post Road, Harry’s Wine & Liquor Market has long been Fairfield County’s leader in education and the introduction of new industry trends. Winner of numerous accolades, including, “Best Beer Shop of Fairfield County” by the The Advocate, and “Best Wine Shop” by Connecticut Magazine, Harry’s Wine & Liquor Market has also been recognized by The Wine Advocatefor its contributions and history.